U.S. patent number 9,758,127 [Application Number 15/431,800] was granted by the patent office on 2017-09-12 for restraint system.
This patent grant is currently assigned to FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is Ford Global Technologies, LLC. Invention is credited to S.M. Iskander Farooq, Mohammed Omar Faruque, Dean M. Jaradi.
United States Patent |
9,758,127 |
Farooq , et al. |
September 12, 2017 |
Restraint system
Abstract
A restraint system in a vehicle includes a first retractor, a
second retractor, a first webbing retractably coupled to the first
retractor, a second webbing retractably coupled to the second
retractor, a first lower vest panel attached to the first webbing,
and a second lower vest panel attached to the second webbing. The
lower vest panels are inflatable and releasably attachable to each
other.
Inventors: |
Farooq; S.M. Iskander (Novi,
MI), Faruque; Mohammed Omar (Ann Arbor, MI), Jaradi; Dean
M. (Macomb, MI) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ford Global Technologies, LLC |
Dearborn |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
(Dearborn, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
59752764 |
Appl.
No.: |
15/431,800 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R
22/14 (20130101); B60R 22/26 (20130101); B60N
2/143 (20130101); B60R 21/18 (20130101); B60R
2022/027 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60R
21/18 (20060101); B60R 22/26 (20060101); B60R
22/14 (20060101); B60R 22/12 (20060101); B60R
22/10 (20060101); B60R 22/02 (20060101); B60N
2/24 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;280/730.1,733 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4431658 |
|
Mar 1996 |
|
DE |
|
19630561 |
|
Jan 1997 |
|
DE |
|
102010055579 |
|
Jun 2012 |
|
DE |
|
2010125992 |
|
Jun 2010 |
|
JP |
|
Primary Examiner: Fleming; Faye M
Attorney, Agent or Firm: MacKenzie; Frank A. Bejin Bieneman
PLC
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A restraint system comprising: a first retractor and a second
retractor; a first webbing retractably coupled to the first
retractor, and a second webbing retractably coupled to the second
retractor; and a first vest panel attached to the first webbing,
and a second vest panel attached to the second webbing; the vest
panels being inflatable and releasably attachable to each
other.
2. The restraint system of claim 1, further comprising a seatback
having a first bolster and a second bolster, wherein the first
retractor is disposed in the first bolster, and the second
retractor is disposed in the second bolster.
3. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein one of the first and
second vest panels has a clip and the other of the first and second
vest panels has a buckle.
4. The restraint system of claim 3, wherein one of the first and
second vest panels has a second clip and the other of the first and
second vest panels has a second buckle.
5. The restraint system of claim 1, further comprising an inflator
in communication with each of the vest panels.
6. The restraint system of claim 5, wherein each webbing has a
first end and a second end, the first end of the first webbing is
coupled to the first retractor, the second end of the first
retractor is coupled to the first vest panel, the first end of the
second webbing is coupled to the second retractor, and the second
end of the second webbing is coupled to the second vest panel;
further comprising a first tube extending in the first webbing from
the first end to the second end, and a second tube extending in the
second webbing from the first end to the second end.
7. The restraint system of claim 6, further comprising a first fill
line extending from the inflator to the first end of the first
webbing and in communication with the first tube, and a second fill
line extending from the inflator to the first end of the second
webbing and in communication with the second tube.
8. The restraint system of claim 1, further comprising a first
inflator in communication with the first vest panel, and a second
inflator in communication with the second vest panel.
9. The restraint system of claim 1, further comprising a first
upper vest panel coupled to the first retractor above the first
vest panel, and a second upper vest panel coupled to the second
retractor above the second vest panel.
10. The restraint system of claim 9, further comprising a first
upper webbing coupled to the first retractor, the first upper vest
panel being attached to the first upper webbing; and a second upper
webbing coupled to the second retractor, the second upper vest
panel being attached to the second upper webbing.
11. The restraint system of claim 9, wherein the upper vest panels
are releasably attachable to each other.
12. The restraint system of claim 11, wherein one of the first and
second vest panels has a clip and the other of the first and second
vest panels has a buckle, and one of the first and second upper
vest panels has a clip and the other of the first and second upper
vest panels has a buckle.
13. The restraint system of claim 1, wherein each vest panel has a
lower corner and an upper corner, the first webbing is attached to
the first vest panel at the lower corner, the second webbing is
attached to the second vest panel at the lower corner; further
comprising a first upper webbing retractably coupled to the first
retractor and attached to the upper corner of the first vest panel,
and a second upper webbing retractably coupled to the second
retractor and attached to the upper corner of the second vest
panel.
14. A restraint system comprising: a seatback having a first
bolster and a second bolster; a first lower vest panel coupled to
the first bolster and a second lower vest panel coupled to the
second bolster; and a first upper vest panel coupled to the first
bolster and a second upper vest panel coupled to the second
bolster, the upper vest panels being disposed above the lower vest
panels relative to the seatback; the lower and upper vest panels
being inflatable.
15. The restraint system of claim 14, further comprising an
inflator in communication with each of the lower and upper vest
panels.
16. The restraint system of claim 15, wherein the inflator is
disposed in the seatback.
17. The restraint system of claim 14, further comprising two
inflators, one of the two inflators in communication with one of
the upper vest panels and one of the lower vest panels, and the
other of the two inflators in communication with the other of the
upper vest panels and the other of the lower vest panels.
18. The restraint system of claim 17, wherein the two inflators are
disposed in the seatback.
19. The restraint system of claim 14, wherein the upper vest panels
are releasably attachable to each other, and the lower vest panels
are releasably attachable to each other.
20. The restraint system of claim 19, wherein one of the lower vest
panels has a clip and the other of the lower vest panels has a
buckle, and one of the upper vest panels has a clip and the other
of the upper vest panels has a buckle.
Description
BACKGROUND
Vehicles include seatbelts for each of the seats onboard. The
seatbelt includes webbing that, when the seatbelt is buckled,
stretches across an occupant of the seat. An anchor attaches one
end of the webbing to a seat frame. The other end of the webbing
feeds into a retractor, which includes a spool that pays out and
retracts the webbing. A clip slides freely along the webbing and,
when engaged with a buckle, divides the webbing into a lap band and
a shoulder band. The seatbelt is typically a three-point harness,
meaning that the webbing is attached at three points around the
occupant when fastened: the anchor, the retractor, and the
buckle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top view of a vehicle with a passenger cabin
exposed.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a seat having a restraint system
including upper and lower vest panels in an uninflated state with
the lower vest panels buckled.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the seat with the upper and lower vest
panels in the uninflated state and the lower vest panels
buckled.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the seat with the upper and lower
vest panels in an inflated state and the lower vest panels
buckled.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the seat with the upper and lower
vest panels in the uninflated state and buckled.
FIG. 6 is a front view of the seat with the upper and lower vest
panels in the uninflated state and buckled.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the seat with the upper and lower
vest panels in the inflated state and buckled.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a retractor assembly and inflator
of the restraint system.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of webbing of the restraint system
along line 8-8 in FIG. 7.
FIG. 10 is a block diagram of a control system of the restraint
system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
With reference to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like
parts throughout the several views, a restraint system 32 for a
seat 34 in a vehicle 30 includes a first retractor 52, a second
retractor 54, a first lower webbing 58 retractably coupled to the
first retractor 52, a second lower webbing 62 retractably coupled
to the second retractor 54, a first lower vest panel 66 attached to
the first webbing, and a second lower vest panel 70 attached to the
second webbing. (The adjectives "first" and "second" are used
throughout this document as identifiers and are not intended to
signify importance or order.) The lower vest panels 66, 70 are
inflatable and releasably attachable to each other.
The restraint system 32 may also include a seatback 38 having a
first bolster 44 and a second bolster 46. The first retractor 52
may be disposed in the first bolster 44, and the second retractor
54 may be disposed in the second bolster 46.
One of the first and second vest lower vest panels 66, 70 may have
a clip 86, and the other of the first and second vest lower vest
panels 66, 70 may have a buckle 88. Additionally, one of the first
and second vest lower vest panels 66, 70 may have a second clip 86,
and the other of the first and second vest lower vest panels 66, 70
may have a second buckle 88.
The restraint system 32 may include an inflator 90 in communication
with each of the lower vest panels 66, 70. Additionally, each lower
webbing 58, 62 may have a first end 74 and a second end 76. The
first end 74 of the first lower webbing 58 may be coupled to the
first retractor 52; the second end 76 of the first lower webbing 58
may be coupled to the first lower vest panel 66; the first end 74
of the second lower webbing 62 may be coupled to the second
retractor 54; the second end 76 of the second lower webbing 62 may
be coupled to the second lower vest panel 70. The restraint system
32 may also include a first lower tube 92 extending in the first
lower webbing 58 from the first end 74 to the second end 76, and a
second lower tube (not shown) extending in the second lower webbing
62 from the first end 74 to the second end 76. The second lower
tube may be identical to the first lower tube 92 on the opposite
side of the seat 34. Further additionally, the restraint system 32
may also include a first lower fill line 100 extending from the
inflator 90 to the first end 74 of the first lower webbing 58 and
in communication with the first lower tube 92, and a second lower
fill line (not shown) extending from the inflator 90 to the first
end 74 of the second lower webbing 62 and in communication with the
second lower tube. The second lower fill line may be identical to
the first lower fill line 100 on the opposite side of the seat
34.
The restraint system 32 may also include a first inflator 90 in
communication with the first lower vest panel 66, and a second
inflator 90 in communication with the second lower vest panel
70.
The restraint system 32 may also include a first upper vest panel
68 coupled to the first retractor 52 above the first lower vest
panel 66, and a second upper vest panel 72 coupled to the second
retractor 54 above the second lower vest panel 70. Additionally,
the restraint system 32 may include a first upper webbing 60
coupled to the first retractor 52, and a second upper webbing 64
coupled to the second retractor 54. The first upper vest panel 68
may be attached to the first upper webbing 60, and the second upper
vest panel 72 may be attached to the second upper webbing 64.
Alternatively or additionally, the upper vest panels 68, 72 may be
releasably attachable to each other. Further additionally, one of
the first and second lower vest panels 66, 70 may have the clip 86,
and the other of the first and second lower vest panels 66, 70 has
the buckle 88. One of the first and second upper vest panels 68, 72
may have the clip 86, and the other of the first and second upper
vest panels 68, 72 may have the buckle 88.
Each lower vest panel 66, 70 may have a lower corner 80 and an
upper corner 78. The first lower webbing 58 may be attached to the
first lower vest panel 66 at the lower corner 80, and the second
lower webbing 62 may be attached to the second lower vest panel 70
at the lower corner 80. The restraint system 32 may also include
the first upper webbing 60 retractably coupled to the first
retractor 52 and attached to the upper corner 78 of the first lower
vest panel 66, and a second upper webbing 64 retractably coupled to
the second retractor 54 and attached to the upper corner 78 of the
second lower vest panel 70.
The restraint system 32 may include the seatback 38 having the
first bolster 44 and the second bolster 46, the first lower vest
panel 66 coupled to the first bolster 44, the second lower vest
panel 70 coupled to the second bolster 46, the first upper vest
panel 68 coupled to the first bolster 44, and the second upper vest
panel 72 coupled to the second bolster 46. The upper vest panels
68, 72 may be disposed above the lower vest panels 66, 70 relative
to the seatback 38. The lower and upper vest panels 66, 68, 70, 72
may be inflatable.
The restraint system 32 may also include the inflator 90 in
communication with each of the lower and upper vest panels 66, 68,
70, 72. Additionally, the inflator 90 may be disposed in the
seatback 38.
The restraint system 32 may also include two inflators 90. One of
the inflators 90 may be in communication with one of the upper vest
panels 68, 72 and one of the lower vest panels 66, 70, and the
other of the two inflators 90 may be in communication with the
other of the upper vest panels 68, 72 and the other of the lower
vest panels 66, 70. Additionally, the two inflators 90 may be
disposed in the seatback 38.
The upper vest panels 68, 72 may be releasably attachable to each
other, and the lower vest panels 66, 70 may be releasably
attachable to each other. Additionally, one of the lower vest
panels 66, 70 may have the clip 86, and the other of the lower vest
panels 66, 70 may have the buckle 88. One of the upper vest panels
68, 72 may have the clip 86, and the other of the upper vest panels
68, 72 may have the buckle 88.
The restraint system 32 affords greater freedom in repositioning
the seat 34 in a passenger cabin (not shown) of the vehicle 30. For
example, the restraint system 32 provides protection in a vehicle
impact if the seat 34 is facing in a vehicle-forward direction, a
vehicle-backward direction, or some orientation in between. The
restraint system 32 may reduce torso deflection and may thus reduce
injury from the occupant impacting other components of the vehicle
30. The restraint system 32 may also reduce injury by distributing
a load over a large torso area during an impact.
With reference to FIG. 1, the vehicle 30 includes a passenger cabin
31 to house occupants, if any, of the vehicle 30. The passenger
cabin 31 includes one or more seats 34, including front seats 34
disposed at a front of the passenger cabin and back seats 34
disposed behind the front seats. The passenger cabin 31 may also
include third-row seats (not shown) at a rear of the passenger
cabin 31. In FIG. 1, the front seats 34 are shown to be bucket
seats and the back seats 34 to be bench seats, but the seats 34 may
be other types. The position and orientation of the seats and
components thereof may be adjustable by an occupant. Particularly
if the vehicle 30 is an autonomous vehicle, the seats 34 may be
rotatable to face a different direction in the passenger cabin 31
than only forward. The seats 34 may be rotatable up to 360.degree.
between a front-facing position and a rear-facing position. In FIG.
1, one of the seats 34 is in a rear-facing position, and the others
of the seats 34 are in front-facing positions.
With reference to FIGS. 2-7, each seat 34 may include a seatback
38, a seat bottom 36, and a headrest 40. The headrest 40 may be
supported by the seatback 38 and may be stationary or movable
relative to the seatback 38. The seatback 38 may be supported by
the seat bottom 36 and may be stationary or movable relative to the
seat bottom 36. The seatback 38, the seat bottom 36, and/or the
headrest 40 may be adjustable in multiple degrees of freedom.
Specifically, the seatback 38, the seat bottom 36, and/or the
headrest 40 may themselves be adjustable, in other words,
adjustable components within the seatback 38, the seat bottom 36,
and/or the headrest 40, and/or may be adjustable relative to each
other. The seat 34 may be rotatably mounted on a pedestal 41.
The seat 34 may include a seat frame 42. The seat frame 42 may
include panels and/or may include tubes, beams, etc. The seat frame
42 may support cushions in the seatback 38, seat bottom 36, and/or
headrest 40. The frame may be formed of any suitable plastic
material, e.g., carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP), glass
fiber-reinforced semi-finished thermoplastic composite
(organosheet), etc. Alternatively, for example, some or all
components of the frame may be formed of a suitable metal, e.g.,
steel or aluminum.
With continued reference to FIGS. 2-7, the seatback 38 has a first
bolster 44 and a second bolster 46. The bolsters 44, 46 are spaced
from each other. The seatback 38 may terminate at the bolsters 44,
46. A support surface 48 may extend from the first bolster 44 to
the second bolster 46. The bolsters 44, 46 may extend from the
support surface 48 in a direction that an occupant of the seat 34
would face, that is, in a forward direction as defined by the seat
34. The bolsters 44, 46 may extend along the seatback 38 in an
upward direction as defined by the seat 34. The bolsters 44, 46 may
support an occupant laterally relative to the seat 34.
With reference to FIG. 8, the bolsters 44, 46 may include passages
50 through which the webbings 58, 60, 62, 64 can pass. The passages
50 may be elongated in a direction parallel to the seatback 38,
that is, a direction in which the bolsters 44, 46 are elongated.
The passages 50 may be longer than a width of the webbings 58, 60,
62, 64 and wider than a thickness of the webbings 58, 60, 62,
64.
With reference to FIGS. 2-8, the first retractor 52 is disposed in
the first bolster 44, and the second retractor 54 is disposed in
the second bolster 46. The retractors 52, 54 each may include a
spool 56 and a radial spring (not shown). The spools 56 may be
cylindrically shaped and oriented in a direction parallel to the
seatback 38, that is, a direction in which the bolsters 44, 46 are
elongated. The radial spring may be biased to cause the retractor
52, 54 to retract, that is, rotate so as to pull the webbings 58,
60, 62, 64 into the retractor 52, 54. The retractors 52, 54 may
include other known components such as pretensioners, torsion bars,
emergency-locking mechanisms, etc. Alternatively, each bolster may
include multiple retractors 52, 54, such as one for each of the
lower vest panels 66, 70 and upper vest panels 68, 72.
The webbings 58, 60, 62, 64 are flexible and have a straplike
shape, with a length longer than a width and a width longer than a
thickness. The webbings 58, 60, 62, 64 are elongated along the
length, and each of the webbings 58, 60, 62, 64 extends from a
first end 74 to a second end 76. The webbings 58, 60, 62, 64 may be
formed of a fabric, e.g., woven nylon. The webbings 58, 60, 62, 64
may include two first upper webbings 60, two first lower webbings
58, two second upper webbings 64, and two second lower webbings
62.
With reference to FIG. 8, the first webbings 58, 60 are retractably
coupled to the first retractor 52, and the second webbings 62, 64
are retractably coupled to the second retractor 54. In other words,
the webbings 58, 60, 62, 64 are each coupled to one of the
retractors 52, 54 so as to be retractable by the retractors 52, 54.
The first end 74 of each of the webbings 58, 60, 62, 64 is coupled
to one of the retractors 52, 54. Each of the webbings 58, 60, 62,
64 is wound around one of the retractors 52, 54. Specifically, the
webbings 58, 60, 62, 64 are wound in a direction opposite the
biases of the radial springs of the retractors 52, 54, i.e.,
counterclockwise if the radial spring is biased clockwise relative
to the spool 56 and clockwise if the radial spring is biased
counterclockwise relative to the spool 56.
With reference to FIGS. 2-7, the second end 76 of each of the
webbings 58, 60, 62, 64 is coupled to one of the vest panels 66,
68, 70, 72. The first upper webbings 60 are coupled to the first
upper vest panel 68; the first lower webbings 58 are coupled to the
first lower vest panel 66; the second upper webbings 64 are coupled
to the second upper vest panel 72; and the second lower webbings 62
are coupled to the second lower vest panel 70. For each pair of
webbings 58, 60, 62, 64 coupled to one of the vest panels 66, 68,
70, 72, one of the pair of webbings 58, 60, 62, 64 may be coupled
to an upper corner 78, and the other of the pair of webbings 58,
60, 62, 64 may be coupled to a lower corner 80. The webbings 58,
60, 62, 64 may be coupled to the vest panels 66, 68, 70, 72 in any
suitably reliable manner, e.g., sewing, stapling, bolting, etc.
The first lower vest panel 66 is attached to the first lower
webbings 58, and the second lower vest panel 70 is attached to
second lower webbings 62. The lower vest panels 66, 70 may each
extend from an outside edge 82 to an inside edge 84. The lower vest
panels 66, 70 may have a generally rectangular shape. The outside
edge 82 may extend from the lower corner 80 to the upper corner 78
to which the webbings 58, 60, 62, 64 are attached.
The first upper vest panel 68 is attached to the first upper
webbings 60, and the second upper vest panel 72 is attached to
second upper webbings 64. The upper vest panels 68, 72 may each
extend from an outside edge 82 to an inside edge 84. The upper vest
panels 68, 72 may have a generally rectangular shape. The outside
edge 82 may extend from the lower corner 80 to the upper corner 78
to which the webbings 58, 60, 62, 64 are attached.
The vest panels 66, 68, 70, 72 are inflatable from an uninflated
state to an inflated state. Specifically, the vest panels 66, 68,
70, 72 each have an inflation chamber (not numbered) that is
inflatable with an inflation medium, as set forth further below.
The inflation chambers of the vest panels 66, 68, 70, 72 may be
fluidly separated from each other, i.e., not in fluid communication
with each other. FIGS. 2, 3, 5, and 6 show the vest panels 66, 68,
70, 72 in the uninflated state. FIG. 4 shows the lower vest panels
66, 70 in the inflated state and the upper vest panels 68, 72 in
the uninflated state. FIG. 7 shows the vest panels 66, 68, 70, 72
in the inflated state.
With continued reference to FIGS. 2-7, the upper vest panels 68, 72
are releasably attachable to each other, and the lower vest panels
66, 70 are releasably attachable to each other. Thus, each vest
panel can be temporarily attached to the corresponding vest panel
in a manner that is easily reversible by an occupant of the seat
34. In other words, the occupant may selectively release the upper
vest panels 68, 72 and the lower vest panels 66, 70. For example,
one of the lower vest panels 66, 70 may be equipped with a clip 86,
and the other of the lower vest panels 66, 70 may be equipped with
a buckle 88; likewise, one of the upper vest panels 68, 72 may be
equipped with a clip 86, and the other of the upper vest panels 68,
72 may be equipped with a buckle 88. The lower vest panels 66, 70
may be releasably attached with another clip 86 and buckle 88, and
the upper vest panels 68, 72 may also be releasably attached with
another clip 86 and buckle 88.
With reference to FIGS. 8 and 10, an inflator 90 may be in
communication with the vest panels 66, 68, 70, 72. The inflator 90
may be disposed in the seatback 38. Upon receiving a signal from,
e.g., a controller 110, the inflator 90 may inflate the vest panels
66, 68, 70, 72 with an inflation medium, such as a gas. The
inflator 90 may be, for example, a pyrotechnic inflator that uses a
chemical reaction to drive inflation medium to the airbag. The
inflator 90 may be of any suitable type, for example, a cold-gas
inflator. The inflator 90 may have multiple chambers, e.g.,
dual-chambered, which can be independently discharged.
Alternatively, the restraint system 32 may have multiple inflators
90, e.g., two inflators 90. One of the inflators 90 may be in
communication with one of the upper vest panels 68, 72 and one of
the lower vest panels 66, 70, and the other of the inflators 90 may
be in communication with the other of the upper vest panels 68, 72
and the other of the lower vest panels 66, 70. The inflators 90 may
each have multiple chambers, e.g., dual-chambered, which can be
independently discharged.
With reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, tubes 92, 94 may extend in some of
the webbings 58, 60, 62, 64 from the first end 74 to the second end
76. For example, a first lower tube 92 may extend in one of the
first lower webbings 58; a first upper tube 94 may extend in one of
the first upper webbings 60; a second lower tube (not shown) may
extend in one of the second lower webbings 62; and a second upper
tube (not shown) may extend in one of the second upper webbings 64.
The second lower and upper tubes may be symmetrical with the first
lower and upper tubes 92, 94, respectively. The tubes 92, 94 may be
flexible along their lengths. The tubes 92, 94 may be
circumferentially stiff, for example, stiff enough to resist
pinching closed from forces normally exerted on the tubes 92, 94
from, e.g., wrapping around the retractors 52, 54 with the webbings
58, 60, 62, 64.
With reference to FIG. 8, fill lines 100, 102 may extend from the
inflator 90 to the first ends 74 of the webbings 58, 60, 62, 64
have the tubes 92, 94 and be in communication with the tubes 92,
94. For example, a first lower fill line 100 may extend from the
inflator 90 to the first lower tube 92; a first upper fill line 102
may extend from the inflator 90 to the first upper tube 94; a
second lower fill line (not shown) may extend from the inflator 90
to the second lower tube; and a second upper fill line (not shown)
may extend from the inflator 90 to the second upper tube. The
second lower and upper fill lines may be symmetrical with the first
lower and upper fill lines 100, 102, respectively. The fill lines
100, 102 may be long enough to curl around the retractors 52, 54
when fully retracted and still have some slack. When the webbings
58, 60, 62, 64 are paid out from the retractors 52, 54, the fill
lines 100, 102 may uncurl.
With reference to FIG. 10, the restraint system 32 may be connected
to a control system 108 controlling inflation of the vest panels
66, 68, 70, 72. The control system 108 includes the controller 110
in communication with an occupancy sensor 112, an impact sensor
114, and the inflator 90. The control system 108 may transmit
signals through a communications network 116 such as a controller
area network (CAN) bus, Ethernet, Local Interconnect Network (LIN),
and/or by any other wired or wireless communications network.
The control system 108 includes the occupancy sensor 112 configured
to detect occupancy of the seat 34. The occupancy sensor 112 may be
visible-light or infrared cameras directed at the seat 34, weight
sensors inside the seat 34, or other suitable sensors. The
occupancy sensor 112 is in communication with the controller 110
via the communications network 116.
The impact sensor 114 may be in communication with the controller
110. The impact sensor 114 is adapted to detect an impact to the
vehicle 30. The impact sensor 114 may be of any suitable type, for
example, post-contact sensors such as accelerometers, pressure
sensors, and contact switches; and pre-impact sensors such as
radar, LIDAR, and vision-sensing systems. The vision systems may
include one or more cameras, CCD image sensors, CMOS image sensors,
etc. The impact sensor 114 may be located at numerous points in or
on the vehicle 30.
With continued reference to FIG. 10, the controller 110 may be a
microprocessor-based controller. The controller 110 may include a
processor, memory, etc. The memory of the controller 110 may
include memory for storing instructions executable by the processor
as well as for electronically storing data and/or databases.
In operation, an occupant of the seat 34 can choose to buckle
either the lower vest panels 66, 70 or the lower vest panels 66, 70
and the upper vest panels 68, 72, depending on a size of the
occupant. For a shorter occupant, such as a child or a woman in the
5th percentile for size, the occupant can buckle only the lower
vest panels 66, 70, as shown in FIGS. 2-4. For a larger occupant,
such as a man in the 95th percentile for size, the occupant can
buckle the lower vest panels 66, 70 and the upper vest panels 68,
72, as shown in FIGS. 5-7. When the vest panels 66, 68, 70, 72 are
not buckled together, the webbings 58, 60, 62, 64 are retracted by
the retractors 52, 54, and the vest panels 66, 68, 70, 72 hang on
the bolsters 44, 46.
In the event of an impact to the vehicle 30, the impact sensor 114
may detect the impact and transmit a signal through the
communications network 116 to the controller 110. The occupancy
sensor 112 may transmit a signal to the controller 110 indicating
whether the seat 34 is occupied and, if so, a size of the occupant.
If the seat 34 is unoccupied, the controller 110 does not transmit
a signal to the inflator 90. If the seat 34 is occupied by a small
occupant, the controller 110 may transmit a signal through the
communications network 116 to the inflator 90, and the inflator 90
may discharge the appropriate chambers and inflate the lower vest
panels 66, 70. If the seat 34 is occupied by a large occupant, the
controller 110 may transmit a signal through the communications
network 116 to the inflator 90, and the inflator 90 may discharge
all the chambers and inflate the upper vest panels 68, 72 and the
lower vest panels 66, 70.
The disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner, and it
is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is
intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of
limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present
disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings, and the
disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically
described.
* * * * *